Global Lead deficit widens to 15,000 ton during Jan-Sept

LONDON (Scrap Register): The global lead market has recorded a deficit of 15,000 tons during January to September this year. It must be noted that the worldwide lead market had reported a deficit of 14 kt for the entire year 2015, according to World Bureau of Metal Statistics.

The global refined lead output during Jan-Sep ’16 increased by 5.2% over the previous year to 8,034.2 kt. This is inclusive of production from primary and secondary sources.

The global lead demand during Jan-Sep ‘16 has surged higher by 387 kt. The Chinese apparent consumption in January to September 2016 totaled 3,181.2 kt, which is higher by 312.0 kt when matched with the corresponding nine-month period in 2015.

The Chinese apparent consumption represented over 39% of the global total. The apparent demand dropped by 34.8 kt in the US.

The reported stocks of the metal at the end of September this year has increased by 13 kt when matched with the stock levels during the end of 2015. The refined lead production during the month of September ’16 alone totaled 893.2 kt, whereas the consumption totaled 874.0 kt.